The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
AN old grenade was found in Newmarket on Sunday afternoon, and had to be dealt with by means of a controlled explosion.
The device was at an old house opposite the GAA grounds in Newmarket at which some renovation works were being carried out last week.
Gardai said that the grenade was very old, and it is speculated that it may date back to the revolutionary period.
In a statement the Garda Press Office said, “Gardaí in Newmarket-on-Fergus were alerted to an incident of a device being located in an unoccupied property on Ballycar Road, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare on Sunday, May 30 at approximately 2.45p.m.
“Gardaí attended the scene and cordoned off the area of this property and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were alerted.
“A controlled explosion took place by EOD at approximately 6.30p.m. and the item was found to be viable and has been destroyed. No persons were injured.”
Speaking afterwards, local county councillor Pat McMahon said that while it had been worrying, it was good that no-one had been injured.
“It was at a very old house on the Ballycar Road and I think there was some work going on there. Firstly, it is good that there was no one injured. It was a shock for anyone to come across it and it was still live.
“It was so old, but it was a danger to the public in general, it was a surprise to the public in general. “At least there was no-one injured and hopefully the person who bought it will have had the bad luck taken out. It was a most unusual happening, but thankfully no-one was hurt.”
A number of grenades have been found around the country in recent years, dating back to the War of Independence period.
At that time the IRA manufactured their own grenades, while they were also part of the British arsenal here.
Two years ago a grenade was found in Lahinch as a house was being cleared out, and after its discovery it was brought away from the property for a controlled explosion.
In 2016 a man actually brought a grenade he had discovered to Ennis Garda Station.
Grenades are still very dangerous when encountered and anyone who does come across one is advised to contact the emergency services immediately.
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
